"It was like we were living in a dream. I'm still under shock," he said.

"I am one of those who carried the injured players into the hospital, that is when I realised what was really going on. All the players - everyone was crying, calling their mums, crying on the phone, saying their last words because they thought they'd be dead."

Thomas Dossevi, who plays for Togo and FC Nantes, said they had been "machine-gunned, like dogs".

He told how players had hidden under the seats of the bus as bullets flew around them.

Several players are reported to have been injured in the attack in the Angolan territory of Cabinda.

Aston Villa said its 26-year-old midfielder Moustapha Salifou was "shaken but okay" following the attack.

"Machine-gunned at the border with Angola!" Mr Dossevi told French sport radio RMC.

"I don't know why. We were under the seats of the bus for 20 minutes trying to get away from the bullets."

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.